Wednesday, 4 April 2012

D for Dump

I use the
word “dump” deliberately because that is still a word we use here to describe
the place we take unwanted things. We are always “going to the dump”. Our dumps
used to be piled up in one inglorious heap with everything destined for
landfill. Not so these days. Now every possible recyclable component is
directed to its special place as we gear up to reducing landfill. The dump has
become an efficient local recycling centre and every visit produces another
revelation about the potential of recycling.

The word
“dump” though has some truly awful images associated with it where barefooted children
pick over rubbish which is piled high all around them – a terrible reminder of
our consumerist lives and the wretchedness of some people’s existences.

3 comments:

For me, the best thing I can now recycle is plastic bottles. I went to Malta about 35 years ago and you had to run empty plastic water bottles under a hot tap and they collapsed completely flat. What a brilliant idea! Why can't we do that now?